Beleaguered DISC Newquay charity to close its doors

A charity in Cornwall which helps people in need has announced it will be closing its doors for the final time in the new year. Newquay DISC, a drop in centre and foodbank service at the Sandy Lodge Hotel, will close on January 1 after almost a decade.

It comes after Monique Collins, who took over the running of the charity seven years ago, announced in October that she had made the sad decision to step down from her role. She said the last year has been “the hardest of my life” and feels it is time for her to take a step back to focus on her health and family.

The charity, which received The King’s Award for Voluntary Service earlier this year, had hoped it would be able to find someone else to become the new manager but its search has been unsuccessful. In addition, Monique said the lack of funding and increased demand for their services has made DISC “nearly impossible” to run.

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“Seven years ago, we had maybe five to 10 people coming in a week for soup or a cup of tea and now we have got over 3,000 people on our books,” Monique told CornwallLive. “If you drive past on a Friday morning, you will see the queue of people waiting for food and that’s the one that really worries me because where are these people now going to go?

“There’s just the foodbank and they’re not going to be able to cope with all this demand. It’s a real shame we can’t continue but for me, I need to recharge my own batteries and put my health and my family first.”

While DISC has been fortunate to receive support from local organisations over the years, Monique said everybody is starting to “feel the pinch” as they have less money to give. She added that there needs to be more funding for grassroots charities to continue running as they have proven to be a lifeline for so many within local communities.

“There’s just no funding out there anymore,” she said. “So, there are so many grassroots organisations and CICs (community interest companies) that are up against each other trying to get funding. It’s near enough impossible to get money in and without money, you can’t continue.

“What we have found is that our government, past and present, actually depend on organisations like us to feed people and that’s not right. It’s a constant battle to keep going.

“We have been incredibly lucky to get money from local organisations but even they are starting to feel the pinch because people have less and less money to give and that is the main problem we are finding.”

Monique said she is heartbroken that DISC now has to close but she feels it is necessary as she can no longer continue in her role. “I have been really upset about [DISC closing] and it makes me really emotional to think about it,” she said.

“I didn’t want this to happen but I just can’t do it anymore. I have battled for seven years. This last year, in particular, has been incredibly difficult because we have lost so many loved ones, so many volunteers have passed and we have lost pets and clients.

“It’s not a job for the faint-hearted because it constantly pulls on your heartstrings. I would say that this year has been the hardest of my life and so, for me, it really is time to say goodbye now.”

While Monique has found this year to be very difficult for many personal reasons, she said she has loved every minute of being the manager of DISC. She explained: “Being in a position to help so many people out, whether that be financially, with housing, just being able to listen or being compassionate, has meant a lot to me and I am sure I will miss it very deeply when I’m gone.

“I have worked with so many volunteers over the years and it’s been an absolute pleasure to work alongside them, and it’s been a real eye-opener for sure. DISC will always have a special place in my heart.”

Monique’s last day at DISC will be December 23 and while the charity said it will close its doors on January 1, she said it will stop running once she has left. She wanted to stay on as manager until Christmas, in an effort to make it the ‘best one yet’.

“We want to make this Christmas at DISC the biggest and best one we have had in the last seven years, so if anyone wants to bring in a gift, we would be very grateful because we want to go out with a bang,” she said.

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In a statement posted on Facebook, the trustees of DISC thanked all the volunteers who have helped run their service and they encouraged the community to keep supporting those in need.

It said: “With a heavy heart the Trustees are announcing the closure from January 1, 2025 of DISC Newquay, a cause that has been at the centre of a mission to support and uplift the most vulnerable in our society. For the last few years, the charity has had the privilege of providing food, aid, and a sense of hope to individuals and families facing unimaginable challenges.

“Through the generosity, dedication, and support from the local community and beyond, we’ve been able to make a lasting impact. While it is incredibly difficult to say goodbye, we are proud of all that the charity has accomplished. DISC has helped thousands of people regain their dignity, access essential resources, and, perhaps most importantly, feel seen and cared for.

“The kindness and commitment from the volunteers made this work possible, and for that, we are deeply grateful. As the landscape of charitable giving and need evolves, the decision to close was not made lightly, but a decision needed to be made. We are, however, confident that the values of compassion and community that we’ve championed over the years will continue to live on.”

It continued: “ We are deeply grateful to the volunteers, donors, partners, and everyone who believed in our mission and worked tirelessly for the good of the local community. Although this chapter is coming to an end, we know that the spirit of this organisation will persist in the hearts of those DISC helped, and the volunteers that gave their time. We encourage the community to continue supporting those in need, whether through other local organisations, acts of kindness, or by being the change you want to see.

“Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for believing in DISC and for making such a profound difference. Your generosity has left an indelible mark on our community, and for that, we are eternally grateful.”